Knitting machine



N. J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 6. 1917 8 Sheets-Sheet1 mom 14:02

7 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Ho'zumyr N. J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE Original FiledFeb. 6, 1917 Dec. *25, 1928.

Dec. 25, 1928.

1,696,282 N. J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 6. 1917 8Shaw-Sheet 3 wraw attozweql r N J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE 8rigina1 FiledFeb. 6. 1917 W Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,282

. N. J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 6, 1917 8Sheets-Sheet e Dec. 25, 1928. I 1,696,282

- N. J. PERRY KNITTING" MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 6. 191'? 8Shuts-Sheet 7 awuewtoz 1/27 A I. 60M

Dec. 25, 1928. N. J. PERRY KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 6, i9178 sheets-sheet s- Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oF IceQ NAPOLEON J. PERRY, F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE,AssIGNoR 'ro ivraY HosInRY MILLS, 0F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATIONor TENNESSEE,

xNI'rTtNG MACHINE.

Application filed February 6, 1917, Serial No. 146,917. Renewed April10, 1928.

articles of apparel (particularly hosiery)- may be completely knittedfrom-the toe to the top of the hose without requiring the transferenceof the article from one machine to another, as is now the ractice.

Another purposeof t e invention 18 to equip a plain knitting machinewith upparatus for rib knitting, wherein sald rib nitting apparatus isautomatically controlled by pattern mechanism.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a attern form thatis actuated through the aforesaid control of the pla n knitting machine,that will bring the rib knitting mechanism into operation to knit ribknitting at the proper periods n the manufacture of the article, andwhich is ada ted to be altered or changed at will.

The invention, as disclosed herein, is adapted for attachment to anystandard type of circular knitting machlne, and the range of adjustment,timing, and combinations of the several elements, is such that theequipped machine is capable of manufacturing a wide variety of artlclesby pla n knitting, rib knitting, circular kn1tting,reciprocableknitting, or any combination of these.

The invention is disclosed by way of illustration in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation'al view of the machinecomplete,

Figure 1 shows one type of stocking knitted by the machine,

Figure 2 a top plan view of the machine,

Figure 3 a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 a sectional View on the line 4--4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 3,and with certain parts omitted, a

Figure 6 a central sectional View of the dial ahd dial cap taken on theline Cr ti of Figure 8,

Figure 7 a similar view taken on the line 77 of Flgure 8,

Figure 8 an inverted plan view of the dial Figure 9 a diagrammatic view,partly broken away, of the dial and showing the needles in differentpositions of operation.

Figure 10 a detail View of a cam element of the dial cap,

Figure 11 a detail sectional view showing the tensioning device for themovable guide members, v

Figure 12 a detail horizontal sectional view of the cylinder and sinkerring, showing the dial control lugs in modified form,

Figure 13 an enlarged detail view of one of the dial cap cam actuatingdevices,

Figure 14 a similar view of the other dial cap cam actuating device, andi Figure 15 a top' plan view of the device shown in Figure 14.

While the invention is in no sense to be considered as limited to anyparticular type of machine, the novel elements of mechanism have beenillustrated as a matter of convenience in connection with a machine ofthe type having rotary cams and a fixed needle cylinder, substantiallysimilar to that shown in the patent to Mayo, 726,178, April 21, 1903, towhich reference may be had for fuller explanation of details of thestructure improved upon. I

Referring to the construction in further detail, and wherein likereference characters indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures, 25 designates the frame of any standard plain knitting machine,having a driving shaft 26 journaled therein and adapted to be driventhrough a suitable source of power by a pulley arrangement 27. Saiddriving shaft is fitted with clutch elements 28 and 29 forrotating theknitting head 30 for circular knitting through the bevel gears 31 v(onlyone being shown);

or said knitting head may be osciilated for reciprocatory knitting,through the clutch elements 29 and 33. I

The transmission for operating the knitting head to knit byreciproc'atory knitting comprises a pinion Sat coupled to rotate withthe shaft'26 through the clutches (29 and. 33) andmeshing (Fig. 3) witha larger pinion 3 5 journalled on the shaft 36. Said pinion 35 carries acrank a'i'iri 37 connected with the connecting-rod 38 to operate thegear segment 39; and said segment meshes with the gear wheel (Figure 4)to impart oscillation thereto. Said gear wheel 40 is loosely mounted onthe shaft 26 and therefore runs idly except when the clutch elements 28and 29 are coupled. This coupling engagement (28 and 29) givesoscillation to shaft 26 and a like motion to the bevel gear 31 andoperates the knitting head for reciprocatory knitting. The means forchanging from rotary to reciprocatorvknitting is the same as in thepatent to Mayo, 726,- 178. The clutch element 29 is actuated to connectwith either of the clutch elements 28 or 33 for imparting rotation oroscillation to the knitting head for CiICl lar or reciprocatoryknitting. through the c utch arm 41 fulcrumed on the frame at 42 andoperated.

through engagement with the cam wheel 43 that is fixed to a second shaft44 mounted on the frame 25.

The cam wheel 43 is adapted to be operated intermittently from thedriving shaft, through the following mechanism; sprocket chain 48travels on a sprocket wheel 47 integral with ratchet 45 and looselymounted on hub 46 of cam wheel 48: and said chain constitutes the timecontrolled element of the machine. The ratchet wheel 45 isintermittently turned by the pawl 49 carried by the arm 50 fulcrumed onthe frame at 51, and movement is imparted to said arm through theanti-friction roller 252 (Fig. 3) mounted on gear-segment 39 at thelower end of the connecting rod 38. A retraction spring 54, anchored tothe frame. co-operates with said roller 252 to move the pawl 49continuously. With the mechanism thus described, only the ratchet wheel45 and the sprocket wheel 47, carrying the chain 48 are operated, i. e.the shaft 44 and the cam wheel 43 remain stationary for extended periodsof time. Since the segment gear 39 operates continuously ratchet wheel45 is likewise operated continuously and the pattern chain 48 istherefore driven during rotary or reciprocatory knitting.

The shaft 44 has a notched disk fixed thereon that is engaged by a pawl56 mounted on the lever 57 that is fulcrumcd to the frame at 58; andsaid lever derives movement from the hub 53 of the segment gear 39,through the cam 52, for moving the arm in one direction, and theretraction spring 60 operates to return said arm. The pawl 56 isnormally held inoperative by the dog 61 pivoted on the frame 25 (seeFigure 5) and said dog is tensioned, by the spring 59, to engage withone edge of the chain and is formed with a tail-piece 62 (see Figure 3)normally co-acting with the pin or stud 63 of the pawl 56, to hold thelatter out of engagement with said notched disk 55. The chain 48 isprovided with properly distributed lugs 64, whose function is to engagewith dog 61 and lift the latter to release the pawl 56, when said pawlmay engage with a notch on the disk 55 and impart movement thereto. Saiddisk 55 is fixed to rotate with the cam Wheel 43 and thereby impartmovement to said cam wheel to actuate the clutch-shifting arm 41 toengage with one or the other of clutch elements 28 and 33, accordinglyas the machine is to operate by circular knitting or rcciprocabieknitting, andthis is predetermined by the number and location of lugs 64on the chain.

A second cam drum 65 (Figures 1 and 5) is fixed on the shaft 44 and hasfor its function to shift the cam plate (not shown) of the knitting headand to manipulate the yarn carrier (not shown), as in standard machinesof this type. A notched disk 66 is secured to said cam drum 65 and isengaged to be operated by a. pawl 67 mounted on the lever 68 that is, inturn, moved through engagement with the roller 268 mounted on the gearsegment 36 (see Fig.

5) and a retraction spring 69, anchored to the frame, engages with saidlever 68. The notches on the disk 66 are disposed to sup plement thenotches on the disk 55, to the end that the latter disk (55) will bemoved during those periods when its own operating pawl 56 is inactive,i. e. the two disks 55 and 66 have their respective notches so locatedas to form virtually a single disk notched about its periphery. The disk55 has, in fact, only four notches, and by this arrangement, the camwheel 43 is moved that number of times to shift the clutch in accordancewith the arrangement of lugs 6'4 on the chain 48; and the disk 55 musttherefore be moved to make up for its blank periphery, and this is doneby the notches in the disk 66 which are located angularly with respectto the blank periphery of said disk 55; and where there are notches onthe disk 55. there are none on the disk 66. In other words, the disk andpawl (66 and 67) mo vide an auxiliary device for insuring the running ofthe machine in proper time. The main cam shaft 44 and pattern drum 65and cam wheel 43 fast thereto are thus moved when chain 48 through ahigh link 64 acts on the dog 61 to lower its tail 62, whereupon pawl 56drives ratchet 55 one step. Then the continually acting pawl 67 movesratchet 66 until a blank space on the ratchet 66 is reached. The chainhaving meantime released lever 61, pawl 56 is held out of engagementwith ratchet 55 until another high link of the chain reaches dog 61. Thepattern chain acts in the usual way to determine the periods ofoperation of the cam-shaft by holding its primary actuating pawl 56 outof action for comparatively long periods, and the cam-shaft controls theelements of the organized machine as above set forth.

The structure thus far described is old and forms no part of myinvention except as certain parts co-operate with the elements of myimproved structure. Certain novel features of the pattern mechanism areclaimed in my copending application, Serial No. 346,681, filed December22, 1919.

The attachmentper se consists of a dial cam head having dial needlestherein mounted on a ring gear, and said dial cam head consists of apair of brackets or posts mounted on two blocks 71, 71 that are securedto the cam ring gear 72 (Fig. 2) by the screws 73, or said posts may bemounted on the ring gear in any other suitable manner. A yoke piece 74is mounted on said brackets 70, and has depending and fixed thereto ashaft 75 disposed concentrically with the stationary cylinder 76 of thecylinder needles (see Figures 1 and 12). A stationary dial 77,constructed to receive a plurality of dial needles 7 8, is fitted on theshaft 75 and located within the cylinder 7 6, and is held stationaryduring rotary knitting by engagement of its lug 79 (Figs, 6 and 12)against lug 80 on the sinker ring 81 secured to the needle cylinder 76,but is free to oscillate during the knitting of heels and toes. Suchoscillation may be due to friction between the arts of the machine andthe fabric and i only one lug 80 were present might carry lug 79 intothe area. of the forming fabric of a heel or toe pocket or the like,thus retarding the progress of that portion of the web most in need ofacceleration. A second lug 80 is therefore placed on the sinker ring ata distance of approximately 180 from lug 80.

If the lugs 80 and 80 were placed close together at one side of thecylinder the fric tion of the fabric on dog 79 would be needlesslyincreased.

Lug 79 may be fixed to the dial (Fig. 6) or integral therewith (Fig.12).

A dial cap 82 is secured to the shaft 75 and carries the elements foractuating the dial needles at the periods predetermined by the patternforms 133 hereinafter referred to. Said elements consist of a pair ofplates 83 and 84 mounted to slide in the ways 85 formed on the undersideof said dial cap, and plat-es 83 and 84 are adapted to be actuatedrespectively by the links 86 and 87 through pins 88 and 88 secured tothe plates 83 and 84 and working in slots 89 and 89' and formed in thebody of the dial cap 82.

Plate 83 is constructed with a knitting cam 90 that acts to project theneedles for knitting or tucking, and a flange 91 that limits theiroutward movement. Dial cap 82 has fixed thereto by screws 98 aretracting cam 198 adjacent one side of cam 90 that acts to retract theneedlesto draw their loops and cast off the knit loops of the formribbedfabric has been ing fabric. At the opposite side of cam 90 is a guardcam 197 that coacts with cum 198 and flange 91 to hold the dial needlesin idle position during reciprocating knitting on cylinder needles only,as for knitting heels and toes of stockings.

On the other side of the dial from this group of cams is another similargroup consisting of cams 90, 197, and 198. Cam 90 acts, however, onlytoclear the latches of the needles for casting off the fabric from thedial needles or for opening the latches of the dial needles beforetaking yarn, no yarn being fed. at this point. Flange 91 limits theoutward movement of the needles, cam 197 retracts the needles aftertheir latches are cleared by cam 90, thus casting off the rib stitcheswhich are knit only by the dial needles, and cam 198 actsas a guard camin the same manner and at the same time as cam 198. During reciprocatoryknitting cams 197, 197 act only as guard cams to hold the needles intheir inactive position.

A pair of guide members pivotally mounted on studs or pins 96 (seeFigures 7, 8, and 11) are tensioned, against projecting cams 90, 90 bythe pair of springs 97, to the end of bridging the interval between thecams 90 and 90, irrespective of their adjusted positions and forming asmooth or unobstructed cam-way 92 through which the butts 93 of the dialneedles 78 may move freely. Said pairs of guide members 95 are mademovable to the end that they will give and conform withthe surfaces ofthe cams 90 in any position of said cams in their operation.

One of the principal obstacles to successful operation of machines formaking tubular fabrics with sections of plain and the inordinate amountamount of needle breakage in the dial due to the cams not being adaptedto permit oscillatory movement of the rotary dial or the rotary dial camplate. I avoid this di'tliculty in great. part by providing a dial camcap in which there are no parts projecting abruptly into the path of theneedle-butts, each successive element on either side of cam-way 92leading smoothly'to the next, so that the needles cannot jam as in priorstructures, I

Another feature that appears to contribute largely to the successfulpractical operation of my device consists in that structure of themovable dial cams whereby I provide for adjustment of large segments ofthe cam-path, whereas prior constructions often moved only a smallsegment and that segment. frequently on a pivot so that not only was thecampath suddenly and radically distorted, but sudden and excessivemovement was imparted to certain of the dial needles. Sometimes also butone wall of the cam-path was adjustable, so that at theneedle-projecting posit-ion undue clearance was attorded to theneedle-butts during certain knitting operations. My dial structureavoids these defects, the needle-butts being under positive control atsubstantially all times and particularly when the needles are beingprojected or retracted, and the variations; in travel of the needlesbeing comparatively slow and easy by reason of the width of the movablesegment, the needle path in the direction of movement of the needlesbeing at all times smoothly curved, and without breaks on which theneedlebutts might catch and cause a smash, said path being approximatelycircular when the dial needles are idle, and ovate when they are active.

l urthermorc I have provided projecting cams for the needles which aresymmetrical with respect to the diameter of the dial, thus making theadjustment of the plates 83, (ll easier. and helping to make thecam-path smooth and unbroken.

Another ditliculty arises from the fact that the latches at certaintimes are likely to get out of the most favorable position and into thepath of some part of the dial cap, when they are sometimes moved out ofthe way due to the cam action of such part of the dial on the pivotedlatch, but also very often are broken off. Breakage of latches is muchdiminished in my machine by the provision of the narrow tapered J-shapedretracting cam coming to a point almost directly in front of theprojecting cam at each side 01 the dial whereby partially opened latcheson needles in idle position will be opened to the full extent.

It sometimes happens that the dial needles 7S become broken, and inorder to facilitate their removal insuch instances, and with the leasttrouble, an access passage, closed by the piece 99 (Figs. 7 and 8), isprovided and said piece is detachably secured to the underside of thedial cap 82 by a spring-pressed stud 1.00 that works within a chamber101 formed in said dial cap 82. Said stud has a knurled head 91 forwithdrawing the piece 99 into the recess 101 to give access to theneedles.

The slide 83 is adapted to occupy various positions according to whetherthe needles are to knit. tuck or remain inactive in the weltin;position. In the last position the needles are idle and substantiallystationary, but may either be empty, or be holding previously knit loopsfor making av welt.

The slide 81 also occupies different positions, depending on whether ornot the needles are to be projected, as to clear the latches for castingotf the work, or to open the latches prior to commencement of knittingon the dial needles, or opened prior to knitting on the dial needles.

The movement of the needles for casting off and latch opening isaccomplished by the cam 90 connected to the link 80 and said link isconnected to the arm 102 on the post or shaft103 pivotally mounted inthe block 71'. A pinion 101, secured to the shaft- 103 meshes with a.similar pinion 105 on the shaft 100, likewise journaled in said block71', to the end that the movement of either shaft 103 or 100 will causea like movement of the other in the opposite direction. An arm 10? ismounted on the shaft 100 and acts, when engaged by the obstruction ortrip 108, to move cam 00 to its outermost position. when the brush 10.)on the support on the sinker cam ring will engage the latches 111 of theneedles to open the same. In this position of the cam, the dial headmakes a suitable number of revolutions to insure that the latches of allof the needles have been opened. An arm 113, on the shaft 103, enactswith the obstruction or trip 108 to move the link 80 for carrying, thecam halt-way in; and immediately following this, the arm extension 115,engaging the trip 108, moves the cam all the way in. The function of thearms 10?, 1.13, and 115, is,to co-act with the trip 108 for the purposeof? positioning the cam 90 to project the needles to have the latches111 opened, when knitting is to begin on the dial needles and to movesaid needles fully in with said latches opened, thus leaving the needlebooks 112 in condition to receive the thread at the proper time; also toproject and retract the needles to throw-oil the stitches when thefabric is to be cleared from the needles. The function of arms 117, 118and 121 is to co-act with trip 114.- to move the knitting cam into idle,tuck or knitting position according to the results desired.

The mechanism for controlling the knitting cam 90 (see Figures 2, 13, 11 and 15) consists of a shaft 116 journaled in the block 71, the shaftbeing normally moved in a direction to move the cam. 90 into knittingposition. A pair of springqiiressed latches or detents 117 and 118, hereshown as hookshaped, mounted on supports 110. are adapted to engage witha roekarm 120 fixed to shaft 116 to hold the cam against the stress ofthe spring 110' in a half-way position, or fully in, as required. Intheir halfway position, i. c. when held by the Ian-h 118, the books 112of the needles receive the thread as for forming tuck stitches. A.rockarm 121, also fixed to shaft 110, co-acts with the trip or stop 11 1to move the cums all the way in. The two latches 117 and 118 areprovided respectively with tails 122 and 12 that are engaged insuccession by the trip 11 1 which permits the shaft 110 to actuate thelink 87 and move the cams 90 and 01 into their outermost positions, i.e. the position for rib knitting.

out cam 90.

A characteristic stocking made on my improved machine may consist of aribbed leg, with a plain instep, sole, heel, and toe, such stockingsbeing made in continuous succession as so-called string work, thesuccessive stockings being separated by a number of courses of longloose stitches pro viding ravel courses at the point of separation. Fig.1 shows such a stocking'in which there is a ribbed le and a plain foot.The stocking may have, near its top a round welt or a flat welt in halfcardigan stitch, the welts in the stocking here discussed being merelyfor pur uses of ornament, and indicating some of tie possibilitiesinherent in the machine.

The process of making such a stocking is as follows: Beginning at thetoe, first, a toe pocket is knitted on the cylinder needles only, thenthe machine changes to a rotary movement for the foot which is knit inplain fabric on the cylinder needles. 7 Then the heel pocket is knittedin the same manner as the toe pocket and a number of courses of plainfabric are knitted round and round following the heel,

To change from plain fabric in the foot to rib fabric for the leg, thedial needles are now advanced to open their latches, disk 108 beinraised to engage arm 107 and move The needles en age brush 109 as theyadvance, and the machine makes one or more revolutions so that alllatches may be opened, the knitting cam 90 being at this time inretracted position. Disk 114 now engages arms 113 and 115 to return cam90 to idle position and the dial needles are advanced at the knittingside of the machine to tuck position, disk 108 being raised toengagetail 122 to release hook 117, when the cam 90 and its plate willbe moved by spring 116 toward knitting position, hook 118 en; gag ng arm120 on the shaft 116 to prevent the needles going all the way toknit-ting position. The dial needles now take the yarn and after all aresupplied disk 114 engages arm 121 to return the needles to inactive orwelting position, the latch 117 again engaging arm 120 on shaft 116 tohold the cam in place and the dial needles holding their stitches. Themachine now makes one or more revolutions and then disk 114 is raisedand releases latches 117 and 118 in two successive revolutions of theknitting cams to permit spring 116' to swing the post 116 to extremeposition carrying cam 90 to knitting position. The purpose of taking theyarn by the dial needles a little prior to beginning rib knitting is toclose the eyelet holes which otherwise would result at this point.

Rib kni the leg up to to be made. moves arm 121 so as to be caught bylatch tti lg now continues throughout he point where a tuck welt 1s Atthis point the disk 114 118, the cam 90 being moved half way in and thedial needles now tucking while the cylinder needles knit as before.l/Vhen each dial needle has taken one or more extra loops of yarn, thewhole is knit oil to form a course of dial tuck stitchesby raising disk114: to release latch 118 so that'cam 90 can knit, and this sequence ofoperation is repeated so long a tucking is to continue. A tuck welt orsection of desired width having been made, plain rib knitting isresumed, and thereafter a round welt is made by rais ing disk 11st torelease both latches 117 and 118 in close succession, thus throwing thedial needles out of action but without cast now knitted on the cylinderneedles and the dial needles are returned to knitting position.

Rib knitting is resumed upto the top of the leg. The change from rib toplain knitting on the cylinder needles is now made as follows:

Disk 114 is raised to strike arm 121 and move the cam 90 and the dialneedles to tucking position. After an additional reving olf their loops.One or more courses are olution or two disk 114: strikes arm 121 andmoves the cam 90 and the dial needles all the way in to inactiveposition, the shaft.

their loops. To cast oil these loops, cam 90;

is new operated, disk 108 actuating arm 107 to move casting oil cam 90all the, way out to clear the latches of the dial needles, and disk 108'then returning the cam by two steps by striking arms 113 and 115' insuccession. Plain knitting is now resumed, the movement of the machineagain being changed from rotary to oscillatory to begin the toe of thenext stocking,

Many variations may be made in the product of the machine by the use ofmy improvements, as such use not limited to the making of stockings,being equally applicable to machines formaking underwear, sweatersleeves and other articles.

Changes in the design of the article may also be made in numerous waysby varying the pattern devices to produce such ellects as may bedesired. K It is to be noted that my machine is adapted to startknitting on the bare needles.

In the ribbers commonly in use it is necessary to thrust the stitches ofa piece of fabric on both setsot' needles to form a foundation on whichknitting may begin one reason theret'o1"bei1igtl1at the knitting wavesof dial and cylinder needles are not simultaneous.

The presence in my machine of sinkers or web holders such as are used inplain knitting machines enables me to start knitting on the bare needleswithout resorting to a transfer or stabbing-on of fabric.

The trip members 108and 114 are mounted on the shaft 124 to havevertical movement and rotation in the bearing 125 on the late 126secured to the frame 25. Said (isks are adapted to be lifted forengaging the several arms 107, 113, 115, 121, 122 and 123 for adjustingthe dial cams to cause the desired operations of the needles, in propersequence, through the rod 127 working in the sleeve 128 and having alateral portion 129 that engages the underside of the disk 114. Thelower end of said rod 127 rests on lever 130 pivotally mounted on theframe 25 and which lever has a depending member 131 that cooperates withprojections 132 that are located on the pattern wheel or form 133 whichis mounted on the hub 134 of the ratchet wheel 15 the projectionspreferably being formed as removable screws or pins and being located atdiilerent distances from the hub to give the desired elevation to thetrips. The ratchet wheel 15 is intermittently operated after the mannerheretofore described; and said ratchet wheel operating meanssimultaneously moves the pattern wheel. The pattern wheel is constructedvirtually as a mutilated ratchet wheel on which the pattern screws 132and teeth 13.15 are located, leaving blank spaces. hen the extension ofpawl 49 rests on the blank space the pattern wheel remains stationarywhile the ratchet drives the sprocket gear and its chain continually.When movement of wheel 133 is to be resumed one of a plurality of lugs137 on chain 48 engages one of a plurality of lugs 136 on the wheelconcentric with the series of pattern screws 132, moving it until pawl49 can engage ratchet teeth on the pattern.

In the ordinary process of knitting hosiery, as carried out for examplein the Mayo machine, the toe and heel portions of the foot are knittedwith three threads, while the foot portion is knitted with only twothreads; and for bringing the third thread into and out of operation,knitting machines have the yarn carrier adapted to be automaticallyactuated through a cam slot 138, formed in the cam wheel (Soon the shaftM (see Figures 1 and 5). Said cam slot 138 is usually provided with twosalients, one for controlling the machine to knit the toe portion withthree threads and move the yarn carrier out of position, and the othersalient is to move the yarn carrier into position again for knitting theheel portion of the stocking with three threads, and then move the yarncarrier out of position when the body of the stocking is knitted withtwo threads. In ordinary plain knitting inachines there are enoughcylinder needles to form the foot portion (i. e. between the toe andheel) of suflieient texture for wearing, but in the present machine thenumber of cylinder needles is less than that on ordinary plain knittingmachines by reason of the dial needles, which must bear a definite ratiothereto. To compensate for the decrease in the number of needles used inplain knittin I propose to use the three threads throughout theplain-knit heel, foot and toe, as in Figure 1, instead of in the heeland toe only as in Mayo, thus giving a more uniform texture to thestocking.

To carry out the foregoing, it is therefore necessary to move the yarncarrier but once into position, or when the foot of the stocking is tobe formed. To this end the cam wheel has but one salient 139, which actson the shaft 140 (Fig. *1) of the yarn carrier (not shown) to move thelatter into position for knitting the entire foot portion of thestocking, and then to move the same out of position when the remainderof the stocking is being knitted. The mechanism of this machine isotherwise old and in common use, the essential features being shown inthe patent to Mayo, 726,229, April 21, 1903.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstruction and form and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited inany such features except as may he re quired by the claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new anddesire in secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a knitting machine, a dial cap having a radially movableprojecting cam for the needles, a retracting cam and a guard cam, theprojecting cam lying at one side of the path for the needle butts andthe guard and retracting cams at the opposite side, and the latter camsbeing spaced from each other, and means moving with the projecting camto close the space between the other cams, substantially as set forth.

2. In a knitting machine, a dial cam cap comprising a symmetrical needleprojecting cam radially slidable to knitting and welt ing positions, aneedle retracting can: and a guard cam in spaced relation to each other,and means moving with the projecting cam to close the space between theother cams, substantially as set forth.

3. In a knitting machine, a dial cam plate having a needle-projectingcam, a fixed guard cam, and a tapered HOULllC-l'Ctillt'iillg cam havingan inwardly bent point extend ing approximately to the median line ofthe projecting cam, substantially as set forth.

4. In a knitting machine, a dial rain plate having a needle-projectingcam, a fixed guard cam, and a tapered needle retracting cam having aninwardly bent point extending approximately to the median line of theprojecting cam, the needle projecting cam being movable from idleposition to a plurality oi? yarn taking positions for the nondles,substantially as set forth.

lll

7. In a knitting machine, a dial cam plate.

having knitting cams, and means for east ing off the work including acam slidable radially to latch clearing and idle positions,substantially as set forth.

8. I11 a knitting machine, a dial, a plate on the dial movable bodilytoward and from the center of the dial and having a needle projectingcam fast thereto, and a flange also fast thereto adapted to limit thestroke of the needles, substantially as set forth.

9. Ina knitting machine, a dial cap having thereon a needle retractingcam, a guard cam, a. movable symmetrical needle-projecting camtherebetween, and {a flange movable with the projecting cam andcompleting the external wall of the path for the needlebutts when theprojecting cam is in idle cam therebetiveen, and a flange movable withthe needle projecting cam and completing the external Wall of the pathfor the needle-butts when the projecting cam is in retracted position,substantially as set forth.

11. In a knitting machine, a dial cam plate having a diametrical groove,blocks thereon movable along said groove toward and from each other, aneedle projecting cam on each block, fixed cams at the sides of saidgroove forming parts of the outer wall of a path for the butts ofthedial needles, and means at all times closing the space between saidneedle projecting cams, substantially as set forth.

12.111 a knitting machine, a dial cam plate having a groove, blocksthereon movable along said groove toward and from each other, a needleprojecting cam on each block, fixed cams at the sides of saidgrooveforming parts of one wall of a path for the buttsof the dial needles,and means at all times closing the space between said cams, one of saidfixed cams having a retractable substantially in line with thecorrespondingslidable cam and a guard cam at the otherside of each.slidable cam, substantially as set forth.

14. In a knitting machine, a dial cam cap comprising a slidableneedle-projecting cam movable to knitting and Welting positions, aneedle retracting cam at one side of the knit-- ting cam and aneedleprojecting cam at the opposite side of the cam cap movable to idleor to work-casting position and pattern mechanism for positioning theprojecting cams independently of each other, substantially as set forth.I

15. In a knittmg machine, a dial cam plate, diametrically opposed camsthereon movable toward and from each oth'er, fixed cams coacting' withsaid movablecams to provide a smoothly curved substantially circularpath for the needle-butts whenthe needles are idle and a substantiallyovate path when active, and automatic means to position said movablecams, substantially as set forth.

16. A dial cam cap having a knitting cam movable to tucking and Weltingpositions, a. narrow, J-shaped needle'retracting cam at one side of theknitting cam, a guard cam at the other side and a needle projecting camat the opposite side of the dial from the knitting cam adjustable toidle and workcasting positions. v I

17. In a knitting machine, dial needles, a rotating head, cams carriedby the rotating head adapted to actuate the dial needles, means to movethe cams tova-ry the interval therebetween, and spring pressed fingersengaging the surfaces of the cams and serving to bridge the intervalsbetween the cams irrespective of the position of the cams relative toeach other, substantially as set. forth.

18. In a knitting machine, dial needles, a rotating head, cams carriedby the dial disposed upon opposite sides of the axis of rotation, one ofsaid cams being adapted to throw the dial needles into and out of knit-.ting position, the other cam being adapted to throw the needles at apoint removed from knitting position, means to move either of said camsindependently toward andfrom the axis of rotation, and yieldablebridging devices spanning the intervals between the cams irrespective oftheir adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

. 19. In a knitting head, the combination of a dial plate adapted to bemounted on a knitting machine, a plurality of radial dial needlesmounted to operate in said dial plate, a shaft operable in said dialplate, a dial cap fixedly mounted on said shaft, pair of diametricallyopposed plates slidably mounted in the dial cap, -a pair of cams carriedby said plates for projecting the dial needles, movable guide membersassociated with said projecting cam elements, a second pair of camelements for retracting said needles, fixed needle guide membersco-operable withsaid retracting cam elements, a member secured to theshaft for actuatin r the same, and operative connections for said camcarrying plates, substantially as set forth.

20. A dial cap for a knitting machine comprising a needle cam movable toidle position and to a plurality of yarn-taking positions, a spring toimpel the cam in one direction, a plurality of latches to hold the camin different positions and means to release said latches including apattern mechanism, substantially as set forth.

21. A dial cap for a knitting machine comprising a needle cam movable toidle position and to a plurality of yarn-taking positions, a spring toimpel the cam in one direction, a plurality of latches to hold the camin different positions, means to release said latches, means to restorethe cam against the tension of the spring, and apattern mechanism tooperate both said means, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination with a plain knitting machine of an attachmenttherefor for rib knitting comprising an actuating cam element for theneedles thereof, a spring controlled device for positioning the camelement, a pair of latches for holding said device in positions fordifferent knitting operations, a trip for releasing said latches, meansfor actuating said trip, and a pattern form associated with said tripactuating means, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination with a plain knitting machine of an attachmenttherefor for rib knitting comprising an actuating cam element for theneedles thereof, a spring controlled device for positioning the camelement, a pair of latches for holding said device in positions fordifferent knitting operations, tripping means for releasing said latchessuccessively and for restoring said device against the spring action,means for positioning said tripping means, and a pat tern formassociated with said positioning means, substantially as set forth.

24. The combination with a plain knitting machine of an attachmenttherefor for rib knitting comprising an actuating cam element for theneedles thereof, a rockshaft for positioning the cam element, an arm onthe shaft, a spring tending to rotate the shaft in one direction toposition the cam element, latches for holding; the rockshaft inpositions for different knitting operations, tripping means forreleasing said latches and for engaging said arm to move the shaftagainst the action of the spring, and means for actuating said trippingmeans in timed relation including a pattern form, substantially as setforth.

for the needles thereof, a spring controlled device for positioning thecam element, means for holding said dance in positions for differentknitting operations of the dial needles and pattern-controlled means forre leasing the holding means successively, substantially as set forth.

26. In a knitting machine, adapted for knittin integral sections of ribfabric and plain fabric with pouch-like enlargements, two sets ofneedles, means for operating the needles, means for imparting relativerotary and oscillatory movement to the needles and their operatingmeans, the operating means comprising radially movable needle projectingcams, needle retracting cams, and means movable with the projecting camsand co-acting with the retracting cams to form a smooth outer wall forthe path of the needle butts in one position of said projecting cams,substantially as set forth.

27. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating meanstherefor, pattern mechanism to control the operation of the machine toproduce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocating work, said operatingmeans comprising a dial and a dial cap, a needle projecting cam slidablethereonto and from idle position and means movable therewith to limitthe throw of the needles, said pattern mechanism controlling theposition of said cam, substantially as set forth.

28. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating meanstherefor, pattern mechanism to control the operation of the machine toproduce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocating work, said operatingmeans comprising a dial and a dial cap, a needle projecting cam radiallyslidable thereon to and from idle position and means movable therewithto limit the throw of the needles, said pattern mechanism controllingthe position of said cam, substantially as set forth.

29. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating meanstherefor, pattern mechanism to control the operation of the machine toproduce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocating work, said operatingmeans comprising a dial and a dial cap. a needle projecting cam slidablethereon to idle position and a plurality of yarn-taking positions, andmeans movable therewith to;

limit the throw of the needles, said pattern mechanism controlling theposition of said cam.

30. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating meanstherefor, pattern mechanism to control the operation of the machine toproduce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocating work, said operatingmeans comprising a dial and a dial cap having a cam set consisting of aneedle pro ecting cam movable to idle position and to a plurality ofyarn taking positions for the needles, a pointed J-shaped retracting camand a guard cam, said pattern mechanism controlling the position of saidneedle projecting cam, substantially as set forth.

31. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating meanstherefor, pattern mechanism to control the operation of the machine toproduce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocating work, said operatingmeans comprising a dial and a dial cap having guides thereon, a slidableplate held in place by said guides, and carrying a needle pro jectingcam and a flange, said pattern mechanism also controlling the positionof said cam, substantially asset forth.

32. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating [meanstherefor, pattern mechanism to control the operation of the machine toproduce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocating work, said operatingmeans comprising a dial and a dial cap, needle projecting cams atopposite sides thereof, each independently radially movable to and fromidle position, a tapered J-shaped' retracting cam and a guard cam foreach projecting cam, said pattern mechanism also controlling themovement of said projecting cams, substantia'llyas set forth.

33. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating meanstherefor, pattern mechanism to control theoperation of the machine toproduce ribbed, plain circular or reciprocatin Work, said operatingmeans comprising a cam set consisting of a needle projecting cam movableto idle position and to a plurality of positions wherein the needles maytake yarn, a pointed J-shaped retracting cam and a guard cam, and anoppositely placed set of cams consisting of a needle projecting cammovable to idle and work-casting positions, a pointed J-shapedretracting cam and a guard cam, said pattern mechanism controlling themovement of said needle projecting cams, substantially as set forth. 34.In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating means therefor,and pattern mechanism to control the ope ation of the needles to produceribbed, plain circular or reciprocating work, said operating meansincluding dial' cams certain of whichare radially slidable under controlof said pat-- tern mechanisimand said dial cams providing in activesition a cam path with continuous smoot 11v curved, substantially ovatewalls at each side thereof, substantially as set forth.

35. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating meanstherefor, pattern mechanism to control the operation of the needles toproduce ribbed, plain circular or ial and a dial cap having areciprocating work, said operating means including dial cams certainof-which are diametrically opposed and radially slidable toward and fromeach other under control of said pattern mechanisnnimd said dial camsproviding in active position a cam path with continuous smoothly curvedsubstantiall ovate walls ateacli side of said path tliereo substantiallyas set forth. 37. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, means foroperating the needles,

and means, to control the operation of the needles to produce ribbed,plain circular or reciprocating work, a dial cam cap,having oppositelyslidable needle projecting cams, guard cams slidable therewith andindependent guard and needle retracting cams coact ingwith saidfirst-named guard cams to limit outward movement of the needles,

the successive cams in the direction of nee dle-travel merging smoothlyinto each other and providing a cam path without angles or abruptchanges of direction, in al1*positions of said movable cams,substantially as set forth. r

38. In a knitting machine, two sets of needles, operating meanstherefor, and pattern mechanism controlling said means to knit integralsections of rib fabric and plain fabric with pouch-like enlargements,said its operating means including a dial cam cap, a

needle-projecting camnnder control of said pattern mechanism movable toactive and inactive positions, said cam having its outer end rounded andthe cam being symmetric-a] relative. to a diameter of the cam cap whenin idleposition, substantially as set forth.

, 39. In a latch needle knittingmachine, a dial camcap having a needleprojecting knitting cam, a needle projecting casting off cam, aretracting cam adjacent to each of said projecting cams, and means onthe retracting cam adjacent to the casting oif cam for fully openingpartially openedlatches on the knitting needles, substantially as setforth.

lO. In a dial and cylinder knitting machine, dial and ,cylmder needles,operating means therefor, pattern mechanism causing said operating meansto rotate or reciprocate for knitting ribbed, plain circular orreciprocating work, dial cams for actuating partially closed latches ofneedles in idle position at that point, substantially as set forth.

41. In a dial and cylinder knitting machine, dial and cylinder needles,operating means therefor, pattern mechanism causing said operating meansto rotate or reciprocate for knitting ribbed, plain circular orreciprocating work, dial cams for actuating one set of needles includingone or more needle projecting cams, means actuated by said patternmechanism to withdraw sald cams into idle position during reciprocatoryknitting, and a needle-retracting cam adjacent to each projecting camadapted to lay back part1 closed latches on the knitting needles, sustantially as set forth.

42. In a knitting machine, dial needles, a rotating head, cams carriedby the rotating head upon opposite sides of its axis and adapted tothrow the dial needles, means to move the cams independently toward andfrom the axis of rotation, and bridgemembers flexibly engagingthesurfaces of the cams and spanning the intervals between the cams,substantially as set forth.

4.3. The combination with a plain knitting machineof an attachmenttherefor for rib knitting comprising an actuating cam element for theneedles thereof, a spring controlled device for positioning the camelement, means for holding said device in positions fordifi'erentknitting operations of the dial needles, andpattern-controlled means adapted to release the holding means and alsoadapted to restore said positioning device to the control of the holdingmeans, substantially as set forth.

44. A dial cam mechanism comprising a dial cap, blocks mounted to moveradially upon thedial cap, cams carried by the blocks each presenting anexternal rib and an in- 1 tcrnal member conforming to a portion of anellipse, members spanning the interval between the sliding members andforming the sides ofan ellipse, and means to hold the members yieldinglyin engagement with the internal cam portions.

45. In a dial and cylinder knitting machine, dial, and cylinder needles,operating cams therefor, and pattern mechanism cansing relative rotationor reciprocation between the'needles and the operating means said camsincluding needle projecting cams at opposite sides of the dial movabletoward and, from the center of rotation and means yieldably engaging thesurfaces of the needle projecting cams and spanning the intervalsbetween them, substantially as set forth. y 46. In a knitting machine, astationary needle cylinder, a needle dial, dial and cylinder camsadapted to rotate or oscillate for knitting tnbula articles havingpockets, lugs on the interior of the needle cylinder approximately atopposite sides thereof, and a single lug on the dial adapted to strikealternately against the cylinder lugs during oscillatory knitting,substantially as set forth.

4:7. The combination with a plain knitting machine of an attachmenttherefor for rib knitting comprising an actuating cam element for theneedles thereof, a spring controlled device for positioning the camelement, vertically spaced latches for holding said device in differentpositions of operation, a trip, and means :for elevating said trip todifferent heights to release said latches, substantially as set forth.

48. In a knitting machine, dial needles, r rotating head, cams carriedby the rotating head upon opposite sides of its axis and adapted toactuate the dial needles, means to move the cams independently towardand from the axis of rotation, and bridge members yieldably engaging thesurfaces of the cams and spanning the intervals between the cams,substantially as set forth.

49. In a latch needle knitting machine, a dial cam cap having a needleprojecting knitting cam, a needle projecting casting oll' cam, aretracting cam adjacent to each of said projecting cams, and meansunderneath the dial cam cap in advance-of the retracting cam adjacent tothe casting oil cam for fully opening partially opened latches on theknitting needles, substantially as set forth.

50. In a knitting machine, a stationary cylinder needle holder, a dialneedle holder, dial and cylinder cams adapted to rotate or oscillate forknitting tubular articles hav ing pockets, a pair of lugs on one of saidholders approximately at opposite ends of a.

diameter of such l10l( er, and a single lug on the other holder adaptedto strike alternately, against the first named lugs during oscillatoryknitting, substantially as. set forth. I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand atlVashington, Districtof Columbia this 9th day of January, A. 1). nine teen hundred andseventeen.

NAPOLEON J. PERRY.

